Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-31
FACTS ABOUT PLACER COUNTY.
Statement Published at Los Angeles Con-
eeSniug It's Resources,


Statement Published at Los Angeles Con-
corning Its Resources.
The committee in charge of the Placer
county citrus exhibit at Los Angeles pub
iished the following in the evening Express
of that city, on the 9th instant:
The citrus fruit exhibit of Placer
county in Los Angeles has attracted so
nluch attention from visitors from all parts
of the world, and so many questions have
been asked the author of this article about
the thermal fruit belt of the county, it is
thought advisable to answer through the
press, as being the only way in which all
interested parties can obtain the informa-
ton desired.
Placer county is bounded on the north
and west by Bear river, on the south and
east by the American river and Lake
Tahoe, and but for short distance where
it Joins the State of Nevada, through
which the Central Pacific Railroad passes
into the State, it is almost entirely sur
rounded by water. 1t is about 100 miles
long by from 10 to 80 miles wide, and
is in fact a long ridge lying between two
rivers 1t is in regard to the citrus belt of
the county we now write, where there are
at least 100000 acres of land adapted to
the successful and profitable growing of
oranges. In these river gorges the cold air
settles during the night, displacing the
warm air accumulated in the day, which
spreads itself over the higher land between
the rivers, thus exempting it from damag-
ing frosts. Orange trees that have been
growing in this section for 20 years have
never failed to produce yearly crops of
fruit. There is no scale or insect pests of
any kind that affect the orange or olive
trees of Placer county. The fruit ripens
in high perfection and at no part of the
State at an earlier period. At the citrus
fair held year ago at Sacramento, Placer
took the first five prizes over all compet-
ing counties Of the State, and at the State
and Mechanics Institute fairs for several
years, Placer county has taken first prize
in every instance over all competitors.
To the party proposing to engage in
fruit culture there are four conditions
necessary to be considered, the absence of
either Of which would make the enterprise
extremely hazardous: First, the land
must be adapted to the growing of fruit.
Professor Hilgard, Analysing the soil of
Placer county, says: "The whole charac-
ter of the soil is such as to insure high
quality of fruits adapted to the climate.
Second, the selection of fruits best suited to
the soil that grow and mature in high ex
celience. Third, water must be had in
abundance that can be relied upon with
positive certainty during the dry months
of July and August, when most needed.
There are three sources of supply, either
of which is sufficient for all purposes of
irrigation for many years to come, that can
be had as needed. The fourth and last
thing to be considered is the profitable
marketing of the fruit, and this is of as
much Importance as all Others. The aver
age price at which peaches have this year
been sold at the home depots is IS cents
per box of twenty-five pounds each, while
the average net price paid to the producer
in San Francisco has been only 50 cents
per box. From the town of Newcastle
this season has been shipped, of deciduous
fruits, in quantity amounting to more than
500 carloads of 10000 pounds each. This
fruit has all been sold on orders, buyers
paying freight and all expenses of trans
portation, and taking all risks of the fruit
reaching them in condition. Shippers
stAoO tio'N4b tildA tAiSf t1dNt bSSll ulldulc 10
fill half the orders sent to them for Placer
county fruits, even at higher prices than
those paid to any other section, while
the demand from the near markets
have been so great that little fruit
has this year been sent beyond the
Missouri river. The Central Pacific Rail
road enters this county near Sacramento,
and passes through its entire length of
nearly 100 miles. The California and Or
egon Railroad leaves the Central Pacific at
Roseville, in this county, on which our
fruits can be shipped to Oregon, Washing
ton Territory, British Columbia and east
ward over all northern routes. 1t is the
custom now for all thrifty orchardists to
pick their fruit in the early morning when
the fruit is cool-take it to packing houses,
where it is carefully wrapped and placed in
boxes, when in the evening it is put on the
passing trains bound for the East, and in a
few hours, while it is yet fresh, it passes
into the frigid regions of the high Sierras,
thence into the still colder State of Ne
braska, when it is practically refrigerated
before decay begins, and will keep in good
condition several day longer than any fruit
that must necessarily be kept at least
twenty-four hours longer in the valley
heat before it passes from the State, that
is grown in any other section. This is a
matter of very great importance as affect
ing profit on deciduous fruits
The people OF Los Angeles voluntarily
say that the Placer county oranges now on
exhibition in their city are very superior,
and because of there being no scale or in
sect pest of any kind affecting them, their
growing must be success.
The extremely low prices at which land
can now be bought in the citrus belt of
Placer county offers an extraordinary op-
portunity for men of capital to invest in
fruit lands that, in the opinion of good
judges, viii appreciate to many times their
present value within a few years. 1t is
now owned by stockmen, and used for pas
ture or grain raising, from whom it can be
bought on most favorable terms.